The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), on Sunday announced the commencement of a nationwide strike, effective Monday morning.
The Union attributed its decision to what it described as government’s nonchalant attitude towards technical and technological education, as well as under-funding of the institutions.
ASUP Zonal Coordinator, South-West zone, Mr. Dosunmu Babatunde, told newsmen in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, that the technological and overall development of the country is only achievable through functional polytechnic education.
He lamented the wrong body language of federal and state governments towards polytechnic education, warning that the action may drag for a long time, if the Union’s demands were not meet.
Speaking further, the coordinator expressed ASUP’s concern at the slow rate of development in some institutions.
“We are worried by the state of polytechnic education in the country, especially those owned by the states,” he said, listing out states such as Kwara, Ondo and Ogun.
Other grievances, according to him, are “refusal of most state governments to implement the approved new salary scale for polytechnic teachers and the 65 years retirement age.”
“Imposition of professors from outside the polytechnic sector as rectors and the need for the commencement of the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Polytechnics so as not to allow the sector to collapse totally.”
The ASUP strike has come at a time the ongoing sit-at-home protest by their colleagues in government-owned universities is about 100 days old.